THE MYSTERY OF THE WAX MUSEUM (1933)

• Director: Michael Curtiz
• Featured gimmick: Two-Strip Technicolor!
• Cast: Lionel Atwill, Fay Wray, Glenda Farrell
• Film: 78mins | USA | Subtitles | Intermission
• Event: 18:30 – 21:00 / Doors 18:00 [18+]

Cult film night BAR TRASH continues our 13th sensational season — SCREAM FOR YOUR LIVES! — with gothic crime chiller THE MYSTERY OF THE WAX MUSEUM (1933) presented in glorious Two-Strip Technicolor!

Following the success of DOCTOR X in our CELLULOID JAM season, we couldn’t wait to bring you another title in gloriously restored Two-Strip Technicolor. THE MYSTERY OF THE WAX MUSEUM is the title Warner Bros. rushed into production following the earlier film’s box office success, featuring the same director, cinematographer, lead actors, and an eerily familiar vibe.

Bodies are mysteriously disappearing all over town, and a new wax museum has just opened. Is there a connection? Of course there is! Fay Wray (KING KONG) stars as the next intended victim of mad wax sculptor Lionel Atwill (SON OF FRANKENSTEIN) obsessed with her resemblance to one of his earlier creations. Filmed in an early two-colour process (using only red and green) the film was lost for decades until a well-worn print was discovered and restored by UCLA and The Film Foundation, with funding from The George Lucas Family Foundation.

THE MYSTERY OF THE WAX MUSEUM was among the final few films shot using ‘Two-Strip Technicolor’: the Great Depression reduced production of all colour films in the USA, and a more realistic ‘Three-Strip Full-Color’ process had debuted in 1932. THE MYSTERY OF THE WAX MUSEUM has since been remade several times including previous BAR TRASH title HOUSE OF WAX in our run of Vincent Price classics, and a 2005 version featuring Paris Hilton.

Polite notice: We are showing THE MYSTERY OF THE WAX MUSEUM with subtitles from the best available digital source.

/// BAR TRASH is a celebration of cult and curious cinema, hosted by queer film fanatic Token Homo and friends. Films are served with introductions, intermissions, prize giveaways, and subtitles / captions where possible. Tickets from £3.50 + fees. Adults 18+ only. Follow @tokenhomo on Instagram for updates. ///